Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Wednesday, 13 November 2013

BBC News

• Is Labour right behind HS2?"Yes, but..." If you needed two words to describe what was becoming Labour's position on the planned new north-south high speed rail line, HS2, they would be the two I would opt for
• Cyclist killed in Croydon bus crashA cyclist dies and another is seriously injured in two separate crashes involving buses in London.
• Airports' owner writes off UK assetsNew Zealand firm Infratil announces it has written off the assets of its UK airports, Glasgow Prestwick and Manston in Kent.

The Guardian

• Heathrow Hub sets out to convince public of 'quieter' four-runway planGroup behind ad campaign could make millions from options on nearby land should its £12.5bn airport expansion proposal be acceptedA group which has launched a national advertising campaign for its proposal for a four-runway Heathrow without the

The Herald

• Bob Crow: rail workers need extra pay to service Glasgow Games 2014Union leaders are to seek extra payments for thousands of rail workers who will be on duty over next year's Commonwealth Games.
• Labour claims train success 're-written'THE Government has tried to "re-write history" by down-playing the success of the East Coast Mainline in public ownership, Labour has claimed.

The Scotsman

• Prestwick Airport set to be sold for £1PRESTWICK Airport is expected to be sold to the Scottish Government next week for £1, owner Infratil said today.
• Third class could return to East Coast Main LineTHIRD class travel could be brought back to the East Coast Main Line for the first time in 50 years after Transport Minister Stephen Hammond admitted that new private bidders for the franchise would be “free to consider such initiatives” in a bid to make the route profitable.

The Telegraph

• George Osborne defends new high speed rail networkThe Chancellor says
• Pay a fee to skip the passport queue, under new Home Office plansMinisters put forward proposals to extend

Mail Online

• The Smart Car of the seas? Tiny boat reaches a top speed of 40mph - and can be customised to become a luxurious party venue, a taxi and even an ambulanceThe compact yacht is the brainchild of a team of engineers in Naples, Italy, and is on sale for £126,000 for a basic version.

Birmingham Mail

• HS2 firm employs 550 in London - and just seven in Birmingham Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood condemns the jobs divide at HS2 Ltd as 'absolutely disgraceful'

Birmingham Post

• Data analysis: Train operators' subsidies fall as rail revenue rises Extra revenue being generated through passenger growth, combined with a more efficient Network Rail, has contributed to a drop in Government support for the day-to-day running of the rail network
• Lord Heseltine hits back at HS2 critics Former deputy prime minister says the scheme's timetable should be accelerated and that the private sector should contribute to the cost

London Evening Standard

• Lord Heseltine backs HS2 to 'rebalance' the UK and spread London's 'well-being'Lord Heseltine has backed the HS2 rail project to “rebalance” the UK by linking London with the North and Midlands.

Manchester Evening News

• Train heading for Manchester strikes a car on Oxfordshire level crossing The incident happened this afternoon at Sandy Lane level crossing near Kidlington, Oxfordshire, British Transport Police said.

Northern Echo

• Opponents of railway re-privatisation claim leaked prospectus demonstrates cover-up of recent successes MINISTERS were accused of trying to hide the success of the East Coast rail line in state hands, as the row over re-privatisation hotted up.

Sheffield Star

• Bus service improvementsBus improvements for a Sheffield neighbourhood are set to be given the green light.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Parties join forces to block privatisation of rail serviceThe SNP has moved to block the UK Government from reprivatising the east coast main line rail service.

The York Press

• New screens to give York bus passengers up-to-date journey information NEW screens giving bus passengers in York up-to-date journey details will be launched this week at the start of a campaign to boost public transport use.
• Study looks at ways to stop vehicles 'idling' to help York's pollution problems WAYS of stopping buses and lorries “idling” on York’s streets are being analysed to help tackle the city’s pollution problems.

Yorkshire Post

• Ministers accused of ’talking down’ East Coast lineThe Government has tried to “rewrite history” by downplaying the success of the East Coast main line since it was taken into public ownership, Labour has claimed.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Suffolk: MPs press Chancellor on A14 toll issueFour of Suffolk’s MPs have met Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne to continue their case against proposals for a toll on a new A14 road in Cambridgeshire.

Other Regional Press

• £1m bill just to make one route safe for bendy busesIt would have cost £1 million to make just one route safe for bendy buses, the highways director has revealed.
• Transport secretary is stuck in traffic on visit to GosportTHE transport secretary had time to reflect on his decision to travel to Gosport by car yesterday after getting stuck in traffic coming into town.
• Sell-off of Brackmills Railway in Northampton is ‘wasted opportunity’ say rail campaignersPlans to sell off a section of the former Brackmills Railway in Northampton has been criticised as a wasted opportunity.
• Durham Tees Valley Airport: Slump in passenger numbers leaves terminal £3.6m in the redPre-tax loss of £3.6m in the 12 months to March this year compared with a £6.8m profit in the previous year - Now tell us what you think
• Up to £45 million pledged for East West rail link£45 MILLION has been pledged to help restore a rail line between Oxford and Cambridge.
• Average speed cameras installed on Barkers LaneAverage speed cameras have been installed along Barkers Lane in a bid to improve the safety of road in the Broough - say the council.

Global Rail News

• Victorian rail tunnels linking Manchester and Sheffield to be sealed upVictorian-era railway tunnels connecting Manchester and Sheffield are to be closed for good despite the efforts of campaigners hoping to return passenger traffic to the line. The Secretary of State[...]
• EU to co-finance Danish electrification projectThe EU has confirmed that it will offer up €11.5 million to co-finance electrification works on the final section of the Copenhagen-Esbjerg line. Funding will be delivered as part of[...]
• Stockholm sets out details of major metro expansionA €2.2 billion planned extension of Stockholm’s metro system will drive the construction of 78,000 new homes, according to city officials. Councillors in Stockholm and its surrounding districts unveiled details[...]
• Gold Coast takes delivery of more new tramsThree more GoldLinQ trams have arrived on the Gold Coast to begin testing. Five of regions new fleet of 14 trams have now been delivered as part of a $1.2[...]
• US company sets up maglev advisory boardAn advisory board has been set up to support a project to bring Japan’s Superconducting Maglev technology to the USA. The Northeast Maglev (TNEM) has named a team of seven[...]

Aviation Industry

• Designs for Boris Island airport unveiledPlans published for six-runway airport in the Thames estuary
• Vueling set to open more European basesIAG boss says no-frills brand is looking at further expansion in Europe
• American Airlines/US Airways reach DOJ dealMerger of US carriers set to go ahead following deal to end lawsuit

Other News Sources

• Procurement pair talk moneyArriva’s David Loseby will be joining forces with Network Rail’s Jim Carter, to discuss the role of procurement within supply chain finance, at this year’s Supply Chain Finance Summit.
• MP presses for station actionST Austell and Newquay MP Stephen Gilbert has met with First Great Western in a bid to get the train operator to steam ahead with delayed improvements at St Austell railway station.
• Network Rail snaps up Swindon ShedNetwork Rail has snapped up Norcros Group (Holdings) 149,120 sq ft Groundwell Distribution Centre in Swindon.
• Network Rail told to find £1.8bn savingsNetwork Rail will get £1.8bn less than it says it needs to run Britain’s railways between 2014 and 2019, the rail regulator announced last week.
• Swedes develop invisible bike helmetYou know what kind of sucks about riding a bike? Other than all that pedaling? Bike helmets. Sure, they keep that overrated "brain" from getting splattered, but they take a lot of the open-air-joy out of things, and they're not comfortable. A pair of Swedish women have developed a remarkable solution: the invisible bike helmet.

Other Subscription Services

• Smart ticket validators required for SEFT Train operators are preparing to buy the station kit that will be required to deliver the government backed South East Flexible Ticketing initiative.The Association of Train Operators is advertising...
• HS2 makes space for SMEs on ground framework HS2 Ltd has begun a search for contractors who can advise on ground conditions along the length of the High Speed 2 phase one route.The 50m ground investigation framework will run for six...